The Atrocious Camp O'Donnell
"The men in the ward were practically nothing but skin and bones and they had open ulcers on their hips, on their knees, and on their shoulders...maggots were eating on the open wounds. There were blow flies...by the millions...men were unable to get off the floor to go to the latrine and their bowels moved as they lay there."
When the Bataan Death March survivors reached Camp O'Donnell, the first act by the Japanese was to search all soldiers for any possessions. All of their remaining items like blankets, pencils/pens, paper, lighters, knives, surgical equipment, and tobacco products we taken after the Death March.
Malaria and dysentery quickly spead throughout the camp, the sick and weak were not cared for as there was no medicines. A hospital was established with the hopes of reducing the infectious diseases, but so many were either already dead, or dying in the hospital, it was ineffective. The "Pest House" became the nickname for the hospital, where many entered but few returned. My brother said you could smell the stench of the dead bodies when you went near the so called hospital.
More than 1,000 deaths occured within the first 40 days of arriving at Camp O'Donnell. The Filipino death rates were much higher than the American death rates. Over fifty Americans and five-hundred Filipinos died each day. If this rate had continued, the last man would have been dead long before the end of the year. I still thank God that this did not happen.
Malaria and dysentery quickly spead throughout the camp, the sick and weak were not cared for as there was no medicines. A hospital was established with the hopes of reducing the infectious diseases, but so many were either already dead, or dying in the hospital, it was ineffective. The "Pest House" became the nickname for the hospital, where many entered but few returned. My brother said you could smell the stench of the dead bodies when you went near the so called hospital.
More than 1,000 deaths occured within the first 40 days of arriving at Camp O'Donnell. The Filipino death rates were much higher than the American death rates. Over fifty Americans and five-hundred Filipinos died each day. If this rate had continued, the last man would have been dead long before the end of the year. I still thank God that this did not happen.
Rules Set by the Japanese:
- the Japanese Army does not recognize rank of prisoners of war
- prisoners will salute all Japanese officers and soldiers while wearing headgear and bow appropriately when not
- daily check-ups will be made
- men will not leave the barracks between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6:40 a.m.
- none will approach nearer than 3 meters to the fence surrounding the compound
- water will be economized. Only sponge baths are permitted
- no smoking within 20 feet of a building
- all borrowed articles from the Japanese will be carefully accounted for
- anyone disobeying orders or trying to escape will be shot to death
- all requests should be sent through proper channels